Anton Hasell

Corner Bridge Road and Hoddle Street, Richmond 

Red Running Tiger (Thylacine) was commissioned as one of three artworks by the City of Richmond for the Urban Arts Square project in 1993, as part of a broader landscaping upgrade for the site.

This land was formerly part of the historic cable tram depot and also housed an electric substation, prior to the buildings being demolished for the Punt Road widening works and this site being gifted to the citizens of Richmond. The work has recently been restored by Meridian Sculpture.

This sculpture represents the Tasmanian Tiger and is constructed of welded corrugated iron sheeting with cast bronze head, front legs and base. The animal charges up Punt Road as a spirit or perhaps an old memory, prompting reflection on the old values that tie Richmond together and speaks of ‘Tigerland’ in more ways than one.

The embedded poetic references continue with carving of ‘Acheron’ on the hull of the boat (or punt) at the base of the work, referring to the river from Greek mythology. This is a Dante like vision of the dog as a beast directing wayward travellers on their journey.

Anton Hasell has undertaken many public-space commissions including the Federation Bells located at Birrarung Marr in Melbourne, the Victoria Police Memorial in St Kilda Rd Melbourne, The Eureka Circle installation at the Eureka Centre in Ballarat, the Tilly Aston Bell in the Domain Gardens near the Sidney Myer Music Bowl to celebrate the centenary of Vision Australia and the 5 metre cast bronze fountain at 209 Kings Way, Melbourne.

He has exhibited in numerous group exhibitions including Coming to Terms with Sculpture at the National Gallery of Victoria (1984), Point of Departure at Bendigo Regional Gallery (2001) and Sculpture at RMIT during the Jomantas years, 1961-1987, RMIT Gallery (2003) amongst many others.